Afternoon Drive: CU football's 2013 recruiting class lands on campus

Connor Center received a scholarship to CU without ever playing a down of high school football. At 6-8, 250 pounds, the Buffs will mold him into an offensive lineman or tight end. (Photo courtesy of TimesUnion.com)

Since this time of year is fairly slow for general college sports news, the Afternoon Drive will take a different route today and help Buffs fans get to know the 2013 Colorado football recruiting class a little better. One player has a spring semester under his belt (Markeis Reed), two quarterbacks (Sefo Liufau and Jordan Gehrke) have been in Boulder since early June and the rest of the young Buffs landed on campus last weekend. CU's late signee (Connor Center) confirmed via Twitter that he was arriving in Boulder this morning after a late night of packing.

Colorado was the first school to offer Orange (Calif.) Lutheran offensive lineman Colin Sutton (6-5, 290 pounds) a scholarship. He committed to CU on May 5, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Lara/Orange County Register )

An influx of California players, a quarterback prospect, offensive linemen galore and late help at defensive back highlighted the 2013 recruiting class. It was a strange recruiting cycle for Colorado as head coach Jon Embree was fired in November and former San Jose State leader Mike MacIntyre took over in December. Warning, most of the highlight videos linked feature electronic music or hip-hop. If that's not your cup of tea, you might want to turn down your speakers. All rankings and measurable stats are from Rivals.com. The players are listed in order of verbal commitment date to CU.

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1. Phillip Lindsay, RB/ATH, Denver South

The 3-star running back/athlete, in-state recruit was listed at 5-10, 173 pounds with a 4.5 40-time. He was the first commit for CU's 2013 class. Lindsay tore his ACL as a senior, but could give the Buffs some burst in the backfield if he's 100 percent. He could also end up at defensive back. LinkVideo

2. Sefo Liufau, QB, Tacoma, Wash.

The 6-4, 215-pound 3-star quarterback has been on campus since early June. Liufau was a standout QB for three years at Bellarmine Prep and a four-year starter on the basketball team. He could get a shot at CU's QB position as a freshman, but it appears to be captain Connor Wood's job to lose. A key to the 2013 class. That's L-I-U-F-A-U. Some day you might be chanting it at Folsom. Video

3. Colin Sutton, OL, Orange, Calif.

Orange Lutheran High School big man (6-5, 290 pounds with a 5.03 40-time) has Colorado ties. His father played at Air Force and his sister is an Olympic swimmer who visits Colorado Springs. He had an offer from Yale, but Sutton's a big fan of Boulder. Video

4. Jonathan Huckins, OL, The Woodlands, Texas

Another offensive lineman for the 2013 class (6-4, 306 pounds, 3-star recruit with a 5.01 40-time). Huckins was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Football Second Team as a senior. He started as a junior and led Woodlands' offensive line in his final year in high school. He had an offer from Iowa State. Ames or Boulder? Good call. Video

5. Sam Kronshage, OL, The Woodlands, Texas

The 6-5, 290-pound, 3-star Kronshage verbally committed on same day (June 11, 2012) as his Woodlands teammate Huckins. Kronshage found himself in hot water earlier this month after a reported racial slur showed up in a tweet. He's on campus, though, to prepare for the season. Video

Kenneth Olugbode was the 2012 San Jose Mercury News football player of the year. (Photo courtesy Jim Gensheimer/San Jose Mercury News)

6. Bryce Bobo, WR, Covina, Calif.

6-3, 190-pound receiver was ranked as a 3-star with a 4.6 40-time. Bobo chose Colorado over Idaho. The tall target with soft hands could potentially help CU offensively as a freshman. He had 1,041 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Charter Oaks High School. Like those listed before him, Bobo stuck with the Buffs despite the coaching change. Video

7. Elijah Dunston, WR, West Hills, Calif.

Dunston joined fellow 3-star California WR Bobo. A burner, Dunston was listed at 6-1, 180 pounds with a 4.42 40-time. The Chaminade College Preparatory product has size and speed, which could be a deadly combo in the future. Look out Pac-12 defenses. Video

8. John Lisella, OL, Littleton

The 6-4, 245-pound in-state recruit was listed as a 2-star and had reported offers from Air Force and Northern Colorado. Lisella comes from Columbine High School, which produced former CU standout Ryan Miller. Lisella played some defensive end in high school. He's also a strong student. APR numbers are trending up. Video

9. George Frazier V, LB, Monrovia, Calif.

The 2-star linebacker listed at 6-2, 230 pounds could get on the field for CU as a freshman. He had 27 solo and 69 total tackles as a senior at Monrovia High School. Frazier also rushed for 242 yards on 19 carries with four touchdowns. You could say he did it all for a Monrovia High School team that had a defense that included Northwestern signee Brett Walsh. Video

10. Gunnar Graham, OL, Kentfield, Calif.

The 6-5, 305-pound 3-star from Marin Catholic joined a rich offensive line class. Graham was named to the San Francisco Chronicle's All-Metro First Team as a senior. He spent his season blocking for Cal signee Jared Goff. Graham chose Colorado over offers from Iowa State, San Diego State and Utah. Both of his parents are CU graduates. A Buffs family. Video

11. Devin Ross, WR/DB, Mission Hills, Calif.

Ross was the third 3-star receiver out of California to commit to the Buffs. He was listed at 5-10, 170 pounds with a 4.49 40-time and could likely end on defense and special teams. Another new Buff who chose CU over the Pac-12's Utah, nothing wrong with that. His cousin and fellow Bishop Alemany receiver Steven Mitchell committed to USC, but will miss the 2013 season after tearing ligaments in his right knee. Junior video

12. Jimmie Gilbert, LB/DE, College Station, Texas

The 6-4, 205-pound defender was listed as a 3-star and played at A&M Consolidated. He has been clocked at a 4.58 40-time. The future pass rusher for the Buffs will need to add weight. Table for one at Pasta Jay's. His father played basketball at Texas A&M. Gilbert had 78 total tackles with 39 solo tackles a senior. Video

13. Timothy Coleman, DE, Aurora

Another in-state player who stayed home. The 6-3, 243-pound Coleman was listed as a 2-star and played at Mullen. He switched to defense from the offensive line, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game of his senior season. Coleman was originally going to Colorado State, but switched to CU. Take that Rams.

14. Markeis Reed, DE, Napa, Calif.

The Vintage High School standout was listed as a 3-star recruit at 6-5, 210 pounds. Reed was coach Mike MacIntyre's first commit at CU and had reported offers from Colorado State and Iowa State. He chose CU over a chance to be a preferred walk-on at USC. Reed had 69 total tackles with 42 solo tackles as a senior. The December 2012 high school graduate enrolled at CU for the 2013 spring semester. Video

15. Addison Gillam, LB, Palo Cedro, Calif.

The 6-3, 220-pound 2-star linebacker from Foothill High School was originally part of San Jose State's 2012 recruiting class. He grayshirted in the fall of 2012, which delayed his enrollment. Gillam came with coach MacIntyre and defensive coordinator Kent Baer to CU. He'll be in the mix this fall to start at linebacker Gillam had 139 total tackles in his 2011 senior season. Video

16. Ryan Severson, ATH, San Jose, Calif.

5-11, 195-pound 2-star athlete picked CU over San Jose State. See a trend? One of three San Jose area players to sign with CU. Severson was a running back, linebacker and safety for Valley Christian High School and has a listed 4.46 40-time. Sounds like a good candidate for defensive back. Video

17. Kenneth Olugbode, ATH, San Jose, Calif.

The 6-1, 198-pound, 2-star athlete out of Bellarmine College Prep was all over the field in high school (LB/TE/RB/QB). Olugbode was named the San Jose Mercury News' player of the year for 2012. He had 103 total tackles as a senior. His family is good at football: Brother Kyle is at Stanford and other brother Kristoffer is at Idaho. The jury is still out on where Kenneth will land on the field for the Buffs. Video

18. Michael Adkins, RB, La Messa, Calif.

Coach MacIntyre and company added another running back with the 5-11, 195-pound, 2-star Adkins out of Helix Charter High School. Adkins rushed for 1,770 yards and 24 touchdowns on 216 carries a senior. He followed MacIntyre to Colorado after being recruited by San Jose State. Adkins had reported offers from Air Force, Arizona, Harvard, UNLV and Yale. That's CU 2, Yale 0. Video

19. Chidobe Awuzie, DB, San Jose, Calif.

One of the keys in the 2013 class. The 6-foot, 180-pound, 3-star Awuzie played prep ball at Oak Grove and is friends and former 7-on-7 teammates with CU signee Olugbode. Awuzie was a standout on both sides of the ball in high school, but appears to be headed to defense in college. He could play corner for CU or end up at safety. Awuzie chose CU over Pac-12 offers from Washington State and Utah. CU spilled the beans via Twitter on his commitment, but that didn't put a damper on Signing Day. Another future chant idea: Chih-doe-beh Ah-wuzz-yeh. Video

20. Tedric Thompson, DB, Valencia, Calif.

The 6-1, 203-pound, 3-star defensive back was a Signing Day surprise for the Buffs. Another burner, Thompson is listed at 4.56 for his 40-time. He turned down offers from Minnesota (where his brother Cedric plays) and Washington State. He was a three and a half year starter at safety for Valencia High School and was ranked as the No. 60 safety prospect in the nation by ESPN.com. Video

21. Jordan Gehrke, QB, Venture, Calif.

Elder statesman of the 2013 class. The 6-2, 190-pound quarterback played at Ventura Community College before transferring to CU. Gehrke will likely be in the mix this fall for the Buffs' back-up job. He threw for 2,388 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season at the junior college level. Prep video

22. Connor Center, TE/OL, Syracuse, N.Y.

The final piece in CU's 2013 class. Center is a big guy (6-8, 250 pounds) and might take time to get in on CU's offense. He'll either end up on the line or play tight end. Center took a non-traditional route to college football after focusing on baseball during his high school days. The 2-star recruit had reported offers from Cincinnati, Miami, Missouri, Nevada and Syracuse. Raw talent.

George Frazier V was a standout on both sides of the ball at Monrovia High School. He committed to the Buffs on June 19, 2012. Frazier chose Colorado over offers from San Jose State, Fresno State and Washington State. (Photo courtesy of Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News)